The Jarvik-7 artificial heart probably will never be a satisfactory permanent implant because the infections it causes are unavoidable, researchers concluded Thursday. Doctors familiar with the air-driven pump called for a 30-day limit on using the Jarvik as a bridge to a human heart transplant, and one physician warned that future attempts at permanent transplantation "will only serve to further document the magnitude of the complications." But Dr.

A bacterial infection may be a primary cause of extremely premature births, researchers report, a finding that could lead to new ways to prevent the dangerous deliveries. "We're very excited about these findings. The prematurity rate in this country hasn't really decreased in the last 40 years," said Sharon L. Hillier, a research assistant professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Knootka, one of Sea World's three adult killer whales, died Tuesday after a four-month battle with a rare fungous infection, Sea World officials said. "It appears Knootka was overwhelmed with the infections," said Dr. Jim McBain, Sea World staff veterinarian. Knootka, who weighed 8,500 pounds, is the third killer whale to die at the private marine park in 18 months. In August, 1988, just three days after the birth of Baby Shamu, the baby's father, Orky, died of old age, park officials said.

March 13, 1987 | TED ROHRLICH and ROBERT STEINBROOK, Times Staff Writers

Sheriff Sherman Block Thursday denied reports from some county health department physicians that an apparent cluster of a deadly bacterial infection had been found at the Los Angeles Central Jail. "A serious problem with infectious disease does not exist" at any of the county's jails, Block said. The sheriff acknowledged that 12 cases of meningococcal infections had been diagnosed among inmates in 1986 and that one inmate had died.

What started as a twisted ankle Sunday has turned into a fight for survival for a 30-year-old Anaheim women stricken by so-called flesh-eating bacteria. Doctors at Anaheim Memorial Medical Center have amputated both of Ana Maria Garcia's legs and part of her right hand to try to halt the spread of the virulent infection, called necrotizing fasciitis. She was in extremely critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

An experimental antibiotic may prevent or delay the onset of a life-threatening and difficult-to-treat infection that afflicts thousands of AIDS patients, according to previously confidential data made available to The Times. A recently completed study of 590 AIDS patients has shown that the drug, rifabutin, can nearly cut in half the rate at which patients develop the infection, which is known as Mycobacterium avium complex, or MAC.

A congressional hearing on legislation that would commit nearly $1.5 billion to the treatment of early-stage AIDS infections next year erupted Thursday into a debate over a proposal to require doctors to report the names of infected patients to health authorities. On opposite sides of the issue were Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), who supports mandatory reporting of patients infected with the AIDS virus, and Rep. Henry A.

Longshoreman Buck Helm, who lived for more than a month after being trapped for days amid the collapsed Nimitz Freeway, probably died from widespread infection and the stress it placed on an already diseased heart, his doctor said Monday. Helm's death Saturday shocked the medical staff because he appeared to be improving last week, said Dr. Tom McDonald, chief of surgery at Oakland's Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. But Helm broke into a fever Thursday, suggesting that he had an infection.

In front of the media Friday, Bernie Donner was witty and upbeat. When the cameras turned, though, the emotions came. "Thank you for saving my life," he whispered in a choked-up voice, wrapping his arms around internal medicine specialist Dr. Peter Miao.

Despite a historic drop in AIDS cases and deaths in the U.S. in the last few years, the rate at which people are becoming infected with HIV has held relatively steady, the government said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said that many people are not heeding warnings about unsafe sex and drug use.